NARAL PCO disappointed with Sen. Wyden’s yes vote on Roberts; urges Senator to keep privacy rights at forefront with next Supreme Court nominee.
(Portland, OR) – Michele Stranger-Hunter, director of NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon, expressed her disappointment with Senator Ron Wyden’s announcement that he would be voting in favor of John Roberts’ appointment to the Chief Justice seat of the Supreme Court. NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon has been working with coalition partners to ask both of Oregon’s senators to do their constitutional duty and make sure that the American public and the US Senate is given the most complete and accurate information possible before voting on his nomination to the position of Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. The organization – as a result of intense scrutiny and exhaustive research - has concluded that John Roberts will not be a strong supporter of reproductive freedom. Throughout the hearings process, Roberts refused to say whether the right to privacy includes a woman’s right to choose, and his answers mirrored those of Clarence Thomas, who said he supported privacy, yet then voted to overturn Roe.
Ms. Stranger-Hunter states: “I speak for NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon’s thousands of members in urging Senator Wyden to stand by his strong pro-choice record as we move forward with the replacement of Sandra Day O’Connor. She is the swing vote who puts reason before ideology and defends women’s reproductive freedom. Oregon’s women deserve a moderate court that will respect our freedom to choose from a full range of reproductive options.”
NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon board president Darr Durham adds: “Early on, President Bush promised his right-wing base he would deliver a Supreme Court justice like Scalia and Thomas. Pro-Choice Oregonians are hoping presumed Chief Justice Roberts will prove to be open-minded and support the precedents of the court. President Bush has pleased his right-wing base with John Roberts, now he should do what’s in the best interests of the country. The next justice needs to be a moderate, consensus candidate who will protect our freedoms and uphold Roe v. Wade.”
NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon will continue to communicate with our Senators on this issue until the new, full Supreme Court has been confirmed. The organization is confident that Senator Wyden will stand by the sentiments he expressed in his statement on his vote, and apply a critical thought process that keeps privacy rights at the forefront when considering the next Supreme Court candidate. The Senator’s pro-choice constituents – who make up a majority of Oregonians – know that his decision to support John Roberts makes it even more imperative that he very closely examines the nominee to replace Sandra Day O’Connor, who is the swing vote on the Court protecting women’s reproductive freedom.
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